Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV
86 Imaging
54 Features
76 Overall
62


89 Imaging
52 Features
79 Overall
62
Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
- Announced September 2016
- Old Model is Olympus E-PL7
- Later Model is Olympus E-PL9
(Full Review)
- 20MP - 1" Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 125 - 12800 (Increase to 25600)
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 3840 x 2160 video
- 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
- 298g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
- Revealed June 2015
- Earlier Model is Sony RX100 III
- Newer Model is Sony RX100 V

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV Overview
On this page, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony RX100 IV, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sony. The resolution of the E-PL8 (16MP) and the RX100 IV (20MP) is pretty close but the E-PL8 (Four Thirds) and RX100 IV (1") posses totally different sensor dimensions.

The E-PL8 was brought out 16 months later than the RX100 IV which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Olympus E-PL8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony RX100 IV being a Large Sensor Compact camera.
Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the E-PL8 grades versus the RX100 IV in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Olympus PEN E-PL8 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV. The entire galleries are provided at Olympus E-PL8 Gallery & Sony RX100 IV Gallery.
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Sony RX100 IV
E-PL8 | RX100 IV | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | September 2016 | ![]() | June 2015 | More recent by 16 months |
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony RX100 IV over the Olympus E-PL8
RX100 IV | E-PL8 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen resolution | 1229k | ![]() | 1037k | Clearer screen (+192k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony RX100 IV
E-PL8 | RX100 IV | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Very precise focusing | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Tilting | Tilting screen |
Screen dimensions | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equal screen sizing |
Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV Physical Comparison
When you are planning to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus E-PL8 features external dimensions of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Sony RX100 IV has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") having a weight of 298 grams (0.66 lbs).
Analyze the Olympus E-PL8 and Sony RX100 IV in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is a front view scale comparison of the E-PL8 and the RX100 IV.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-PL8 and RX100 IV is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, its hard to see the gap in sensor measurements just by looking through technical specs. The graphic below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the E-PL8 and RX100 IV.
As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The E-PL8 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Sony RX100 IV will provide you with extra detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots more aggressively. The fresher E-PL8 will have an advantage in sensor tech.

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-PL8 vs Sony RX100 IV Specifications
Olympus PEN E-PL8 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Olympus | Sony |
Model | Olympus PEN E-PL8 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Large Sensor Compact |
Announced | 2016-09-19 | 2015-06-10 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Large Sensor Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | TruePic VII | Bionz X |
Sensor type | CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | 1" |
Sensor dimensions | 17.3 x 13mm | 13.2 x 8.8mm |
Sensor surface area | 224.9mm² | 116.2mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16 megapixels | 20 megapixels |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Peak resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 5472 x 3648 |
Highest native ISO | 25600 | 12800 |
Highest enhanced ISO | - | 25600 |
Lowest native ISO | 200 | 125 |
RAW pictures | ||
Lowest enhanced ISO | 100 | 80 |
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Number of focus points | 81 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mounting type | Micro Four Thirds | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | - | 24-70mm (2.9x) |
Highest aperture | - | f/1.8-2.8 |
Macro focus range | - | 5cm |
Total lenses | 107 | - |
Crop factor | 2.1 | 2.7 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Tilting | Tilting |
Display size | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 1,037 thousand dot | 1,229 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic (optional) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359 thousand dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.59x |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 60s | 30s |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/2000s |
Fastest quiet shutter speed | - | 1/32000s |
Continuous shutter speed | 8.0 frames per second | 16.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | no built-in flash | - |
Flash modes | no built-in flash | - |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Fastest flash sync | - | 1/2000s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/24p), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 3840x2160 |
Video file format | H.264, Motion JPEG | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 357 gr (0.79 lbs) | 298 gr (0.66 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") | 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall score | not tested | 70 |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | 22.9 |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | 12.6 |
DXO Low light score | not tested | 562 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 350 photographs | 280 photographs |
Style of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery model | - | NP-BX1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) | Yes |
Time lapse recording | With downloadable app | |
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC card | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Pricing at release | $500 | $898 |